NOVEMBER WEATHER

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1931, Page 2

NOVEMBER WEATHER

GOOD RAINS REQUIRED. WELLINGTON, December 7. Air Pemberton, acting-director of the Ateteorological Office, in ;the course of his notes on the weather for November states:— In marked contrast to last year, when November was one of the coldest ever experienced, the past month has been a particularly warm one. At many places ,ithe mean temperature was the highest recorded in vein her for many years.

Over the "greater portion of the Dominion, i;, wasi also a very dry month, Taranaki and isolated places in the far north and south being the only parts ot lhe country where the tcital rainfall exceeded tile average. The greatest defie'eneies occurred in Nelson and the East Coast provinces. The continued dry weather in these districts has had the effect of retarding the growth of veeetation, cereal crops in South Canterbury especially suffering severely ill this respect. Fairly general rain, however, about November 21 was very helpfill, and greatly relieved the anxiety ot farmers. Unfortunately, Hawkes Bay fijeeived little or no rain at .this time. In most other parts of the Dominion, on account of occasional local showers and warm temperatures, vegetation has made far growth. For instance, in the central portion of it he North Island, the sultry conditions which had prevailed culminated in some severe thunderstorms, accompanied by heavy downpours, on November 14. This rain was very plentiful. Feed grew rapidly, and there was a surplus of grass for the first time this year.

Em; the country as a whole, however, good rains are needed to ensure a betiter growth in crops and sufficient pasturage for the ■summer. Stock generally are in good condition, 'especially sheep, cattle having suffered somewhat from the dryness in the eastern districts.